Governor says he never hiked Appalachian Trail; says he cruised along the coast of Buenos Aires to unwind after stressful legislative session

By GINA SMITH - gnsmith@thestate.com E-Mail

Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsville-Jackson International Airport Wednesday morning, having wrapped up a seven-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he said. Sanford said he had not been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, as his staff said in a Tuesday statement to the media.

Sanford's whereabouts had been unknown since Thursday, and the mystery surrounding his absence fueled speculation about where he had been and who's in charge in his absence. His emergence Wednesday ended the mystery.

Sanford, in an exclusive interview with The State Media Company, said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money.

Sanford said he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail, an activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a high school student.

"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford said "... It's a great city."

Sanford, in a brief interview in the nation's busiest airport, said he has been to the city twice before, most recently about a year and half ago during a Commerce Department trip.

Sanford said he was alone on the trip. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.

Sanford, who was wearing a blue and white button down shirt and brown denim pants, said he left for Buenos Aires Thursday night from Columbia International Airport and had originally planned to come back Thursday.

But he said he cut his trip short after his chief of staff, Scott English, told him his trip was gaining a lot of media attention and he needed to come back.

When asked why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, "I don't know."

Sanford later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial.

Sanford said he left Thursday night from the Columbia Metropolitan airport. Media reports said a SLED SUV the governor drove that night was spotted in the airport's parking lot.

Sanford said he decided not to return via the Columbia airport to avoid the media. The State Media Company was the only media who greeted Sanford Wednesday morning.

"I don't know how this thing got blown out of proportion," Sanford said.

Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind. He has visited such places as the coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America. Sometimes with friends, sometimes by himself.

"I would get out of the bubble I am in." Sanford said.

Sanford said the legislative session was a difficult one for him, particularly losing the fight over whether he should accept stimulus $700 million in stimulus money he wanted lawmakers to spend on debt instead of urgent budget needs.

"It was a long session and I needed a break," Sanford said.

After a brief conversation with a reporter, Sanford was escorted away by an aide.

I like Governor Stanford...its about the stimulus money and that is a scary thing

"When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves, in the course of time, a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."- Frédéric Bastiat

The fact that no one else was left in charge of SC is very troubling! He was out of the country... anything could have happened! HUGE STORY HERE!

Quoting: nc gal

Really now! What difference does it make when the state of South Carolina is run by rogue politicians in the legislature? What we really need is for at least half of the state legislature to disappear.

Guys this whole situation is giving me the Heeby Jeebies!!! And that says alot, I look at GLP doom stories all day everyday, and THIS is the one that sends a chill down my spine. SOMETHING is really wrong about this all.

Guys this whole situation is giving me the Heeby Jeebies!!! And that says alot, I look at GLP doom stories all day everyday, and THIS is the one that sends a chill down my spine. SOMETHING is really wrong about this all.

Quoting: Anonymous Coward 3364

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Guys this whole situation is giving me the Heeby Jeebies!!! And that says alot, I look at GLP doom stories all day everyday, and THIS is the one that sends a chill down my spine. SOMETHING is really wrong about this all.

Its all b.s. Who goes hiking without telling even his family where he was going? You would want people to know incase something happends. Then it turns out he went to S.A. ? And he still didnt tell his family anything? I believe when you want to get away you want to get away. But to leave the country on a plane and not tell even your family is the biggest load of crap ever. Next week it will all be swept under the rug and everything back to normal and the media will forget.